US-20260128475-A1 - BATTERY MODULE

US20260128475A1US 20260128475 A1US20260128475 A1US 20260128475A1US-20260128475-A1

Abstract

A battery module is disclosed. The battery module includes a plurality of sub-modules each including at least one battery cell and an internal bus bar electrically connected to an electrode tab of the at least one battery cell, and a bus bar assembly configured to connect the internal bus bars of the plurality of sub-modules. The bus bar assembly includes a bus bar frame detachably mounted on the plurality of sub-modules, and an external bus bar coupled to the bus bar frame and configured to electrically connect sub-modules adjacent to each other among the plurality of sub-modules.

Inventors

Hae Ryong Jeon
Yang Kyu Choi
Jeong Woo Han

Assignees

SK ON CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251231
Priority Date: 20201229

Claims (17)

1 . A battery module comprising: a plurality of sub-modules each including at least one battery cell and an internal bus bar electrically connected to an electrode tab of the at least one battery cell; and a bus bar assembly configured to connect the internal bus bars of the plurality of sub-modules, wherein the bus bar assembly includes: a bus bar frame detachably mounted on the plurality of sub-modules; and an external bus bar coupled to the bus bar frame and configured to electrically connect sub-modules adjacent to each other among the plurality of sub-modules, wherein the bus bar frame includes a frame body to which the external bus bar is coupled, wherein the bus bar frame includes a plurality of fixing portions protruding from the frame body, and the plurality of sub-modules include insertion holes formed on a face of the plurality of sub-modules facing the external bus bar, and wherein the plurality of fixing portions are inserted into the insertion holes, thereby detachably coupling the bus bar frame to the plurality of submodules, melting of the plurality fixing portions releases the electrical connection between the bus bar assembly and the plurality of sub-modules.
2 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fixing portions include a resin material.
3 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein when the bus bar frame is heated to a temperature higher than or equal to a predetermined temperature, the bus bar frame is separated from the plurality of sub-modules.
4 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein when the plurality of fixing portions are heated to a temperature higher than or equal to a predetermined temperature, a coupling between the plurality of sub-modules and the bus bar frame is released.
5 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein when the plurality of fixing portions are heated to a temperature higher than or equal to a predetermined temperature, the plurality of fixing portions are melted and the bus bar frame is detached from the sub-modules.
6 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the external bus bar includes: a first body coupled to the frame body, the first body being accommodated in the module case; and a second body extending from the first body, the second body being connected to the internal bus bars, the second body being accommodated in the module case.
7 . The battery module of claim 6 , wherein the first body protrudes towards the front cover from the second body, and the first body is surrounded by the frame body, wherein the second body is exposed from a rear surface of the frame body, and the second body protrudes farther toward the plurality of sub-modules than the frame body.
8 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the bus bar frame further includes a support leg connecting the plurality of fixing portions and the frame body.
9 . The battery module of claim 8 , wherein the bus bar frame further includes a separation hole that is an opening formed in the frame body and is formed between the at least one fixing portion and the frame body.
10 . The battery module of claim 9 , wherein the at least one fixing portion includes a fixing portion body that is spaced apart from the frame body by the separation hole and is connected to the frame body by the support leg, and wherein the at least one fixing portion forms a snap-fit structure and is coupled to an insertion hole formed in the plurality of sub-modules.
11 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the bus bar frame is connected through the internal bus bar.
12 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fixing portions is disposed at an upper end and a lower end of the second body, respectively.
13 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sub-modules include a unit body on which the internal bus bar is mounted, the unit body including an edge portion that protrudes more toward the bus bar frame than the internal bus bar, the unit body forming a connection space between the internal bus bar and the edge portion of the unit body, and wherein the second body is inserted into the connection space and protrudes more toward the plurality of sub-modules than the bus bar frame to contact the internal bus bar.
14 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the frame body covers the internal bus bars exposed to an outside of the plurality of sub-modules, wherein the first body includes a plurality of first bodies, wherein the second body includes a plurality of second bodies, and wherein the plurality of first bodies are spaced apart from each other, the plurality of second bodies are spaced apart from each other, and the plurality of first bodies and the plurality of second bodies are alternately disposed, the plurality of second bodies contact the internal bus bars of the plurality of sub-modules, respectively.
15 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein when the bus bar frame is heated to a temperature higher than or equal to a predetermined temperature, the predetermined temperature is 120 °C to 130 °C, and the bus bar frame includes a resin material.
16 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sub-modules further includes a module housing accommodating the at least one battery cell, and both ends of the module housing are adjacent to the internal bus bar.
17 . The battery module of claim 1 , further comprising: a front bus bar assembly as the bus bar assembly; and a rear bus bar assembly as the bus bar assembly, wherein the module case includes a rear cover, wherein the front bus bar assembly is positioned between the front cover and the plurality of sub-modules, and wherein the rear bus bar assembly is positioned between the rear cover and the plurality of sub-modules.

Description

This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 17/565,290 filed on December 29, 2021, which claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0185798 filed on December 29, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to a secondary battery module. BACKGROUND Generally, a secondary battery cell (hereinafter simply referred to as battery cell) is used as an energy source of a mobile device, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, electricity, and the like. A battery cell may be used in different forms, shapes, and configurations according to the type of the external device where it is applied. For example, a small-sized mobile device such as a cellular phone may operate for a predetermined time even by the output and capacity of a single battery cell. However, when long operation time and high power driving is required for devices such electric or hybrid vehicles, at least one large-capacity secondary battery module (also referred to herein simply as battery module) may be employed. Battery modules electrically couple together a plurality of battery cells for increased output and capacity. The battery module may control an output voltage or an output current depending on the number of built-in battery cells. In addition, secondary battery packs (also simply referred to as a battery pack) may be formed by electrically connecting together a plurality of battery modules. When a plurality of battery cells are connected in series/parallel to constitute a battery pack, a general method includes forming a battery module including a plurality of battery cells and then coupling the plurality of the battery modules together to constitute a battery pack. The number of battery modules included in the battery pack or the number of battery cells included in each of the battery modules may be variously set depending on a required output voltage or charge/discharge capacity. The battery module thus configured includes a plurality of battery cells stacked together. Bus bars may typically be used for electrically connecting the electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells. US patent application to 2020-0168887 A1 to Jay-Min Yoo describes a process of coupling a plurality of bus bars to a plurality of battery cells which generally requires a lot of effort and time in the manufacturing process. In addition, if some battery cells in the battery module overheat or catch fire, heat or fire may easily be transferred to other battery cells of the battery module thus expanding the damage. Currently, extensive research and development efforts are being undertaken to improve the safety, capacity and other characteristics of secondary batteries. SUMMARY An object of the present invention disclosure (referred to hereinafter also simply as present disclosure or the present invention) is to address the aforementioned and other problems associated with the prior art. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery module with an improved structure. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery module with improved stability. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are electrically connected by mounting an improved configuration bus bar assembly. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery module capable of sufficiently maintaining an insulation distance between bus bars. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery module in which a bus bar assembly is separated from the battery cells. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery module in which a bus bar assembly is separated from battery cells under a predetermined condition. In order to achieve the above-described and other objects and needs, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery module comprising a plurality of sub-modules each including at least one battery cell and an internal bus bar electrically connected to an electrode tab of the at least one battery cell; and a bus bar assembly configured to connect the internal bus bars of the plurality of sub-modules, wherein the bus bar assembly includes a bus bar frame detachably mounted on the plurality of sub-modules; and an external bus bar coupled to the bus bar frame and configured to electrically connect sub-modules adjacent to each other among the plurality of sub-modules. Important technical effects of a battery module according to the present disclosure include improved structure and improved stability. According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure can provide a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells is electrically connected by mounting a bus bar assembly. According to at least one aspect of the present disclos